Wally Parks
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wally Parks (born January 27, 1913 in Goltry, Oklahoma) is an automobile writer and hobbyist, and editor of the magazine Hot Rod, in the late 1940s and 1950s. As editor he began to promote safety in organization of drag racing, both in the magazine and by organizing "safety safaris" which taught drag racing organization and safety at several tracks around the country.
He helped to found the National Hot Rod Association, the largest drag racing sanctioning body, and became its head for several decades after leaving the magazine business.
He is currently Chairman of the Board of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, California.
Winners of National Hot Rod Association national events are awarded a trophy statue of Wally Parks. The trophy is commonly called by its nickname, “Wally”.
[edit] Awards
He was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1993 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1992.
